Monday, 28 April 2014

After another eventful weekend I'm super excited to be sharing this post with you. I here you asking why and well I'm just about to tell you exactly that..

This is actually a re-purchase for me, when I first purchased this I started using it as it claimed a lot and it then got to the point where I had used it so much already that it just wasn't going to photograph well. So unfortunately for you guys, I've actually waited what feels a lifetime to share this post with you as it finally got to the point where I'm nearly out of my first one so it was acceptable to re-purchase.

So it's safe to say this product offers a lot but when I read it in Boots I was instantly drawn to it and had to try it. Having an oily t-zone is super annoying and finding the right product that will actually keep it at bay for as long as possible was proving to be a nightmare. From the build up I'm guessing you can tell I love this product! It honestly does everything it claims to do, which is amazing!

After I've finished applying my make up I just pat this powder over my forehead, down my nose and my chin (I could have just said t-zone) and away I go! Now as I've said I really do have an oily t-zone and I kid you not this beauty stays put all day! Shine be gone! I honestly have no need to re-apply this or my powder, a whole day at work and no shine is a miracle. It's a translucent powder so it doesn't affect the make up you've already applied before and it comes with a cute little puff which I actually have been using and it does it's job well. It's also super compact with a little mirror so can be applied on the go if needed.

My experience with Soap and Glory make up in the past has literally always been a delight and honest to God, I have loved every single make up item from Soap and Glory and they are all staples. I think their products have the best packaging and simply do the job which is what you want from the products. If you have an oily t-zone and your powder just isn't quite keeping it at bay, I 100% recommend this product, it seriously is amazing and I definitely will keep re-purchasing. You can get this from Boots and it retails at £12, which for what it does, is super duper cheap!

I hope I've raved about this product enough, I feel as if I have, and that I make you want to go and buy it! It's by far the best make up item from the drug store that I have purchased in a very, very long time! Enjoy and let me know if you've tried this before and your thoughts :-)

Sunday, 20 April 2014

What a way to spend Easter by scrolling through this picture heavy post 'ey? I'm kidding (but it is picture heavy). If you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram (both @natalieellis23 FYI) then you probably don't know where I've been for the past 5 days. Well now you know, I've been in Rome! My boyfriend has been studying out there since February and I thought the Easter holidays were a perfect time for me to get out there and visit him. We did all the obvious touristy things, as you can tell by the pictures, including the Pantheon, Trevi fountain, Colosseum, Vatican, bridge of Angels and watching the sun set from a ridiculously high climb of steps (it was awesomely tiring).

I enjoyed my time rather too much, eating too many carbs including pizza, pizza, pizza, pasta and panini's.. all the P's. Oh and throw in some ice cream (not a P) it was delicious, I had ferrero rocher ice cream.. nothing tastes quite like it! So this year already I've been to Paris and Rome and loved them equally. I can't wait to explore the world some more, hopefully in the future, and share with you guys.

Saturday, 12 April 2014

This weekend already has been one of the best weekends ever, cliche hey. Me and mum went to go and see Miranda Hart live at the O2 on her "my, what I call, live show". We'd had the tickets booked for over a year and in the end it came around super quick. I'd never been to a live comedy performance before so didn't really know what to expect, but saying that Miranda is my favourite comedian so I knew it was going to be brilliant. And boy was I right, I don't think I stopped laughing the whole way through, other than the interval of course. She looked absolutely amazing and I know it sounds silly to want to see the same show more than once but I really, really do.

They also filmed for the DVD of the tour last night, when I saw it, which is pretty cool! So come November when the DVD is finally released I can actually, in a way, relive the night! Honestly if you love Miranda (as much as I do) then you would love the tour, I definitely recommend the DVD! I have heard I don't think she's going to be touring again, which saddens me, but at least I did get to see this one. I'll leave you with a few Instagram snaps of my trip to London and the live show and one last thing....

Thursday, 10 April 2014

Wow this post is long over due, I apologise. These were at the bottom of my 'yet to photograph' pile, hence forth got photographed late. But I finally got round to it and yay for this post! It really was ages ago that I ordered these and the Models Own sale speaks for itself. They don't do it very often but it's definitely worth the wait.. Everything is half price! A nail polish for £2.50? Bargain I say. So I also tried to restrain myself due to having SO many nail varnishes already but couldn't resist purchasing the new Hyper Gel polishes and something different from the Velvet Goth collection.

Firstly I picked up 3 of the Hyper Gel collection called (from l to r) Naked Glow, Lilac Sheen and Cornflower Gleam. These were super hyped up at the time so I was really excited to try them, hence why I ordered 3. So these are supposed to achieve that gel nail look but without the UV, which I think is a lot but if it works then great. I love the colours of all 3 of these polishes, it kinda looks like I opted for a pastel/neutral theme! I have only tried the cornflower one so far actually and can't say I was overly impressed, albeit painted in a rush. I really want to test out another colour to really get my feelings on these polishes and when I do I will let you know!

Now onto the Velvet Goth collection, I picked up 2 of these in the colours (from l to r) Valerian and Amethyst. I've actually already also got the red one from this collection (sorry unsure of the name) and I really enjoyed it! I used that one over the top of another polish and really liked the effect so wanted to try out a couple more from this collection. Again I love the 2 colours I chose and also love how much colour they give off as well as glitter. I'd love to try one of these without a base colour underneath to see the effect and as above when I do I will let you know! But so far I really love this collection, although now it's Spring they're not really quite the right colours.

I hope you liked this small haul, however late it actually is (who's counting?) I'd love to know if you purchased during the Models Own sale and have a look at your hauls :-)

Friday, 4 April 2014

Number 1: it's Friday. Number 2: it's the Easter holidays. Number 3: I finished work early today. Number 4: I actually came home and done some uni work. Overall a kinda productive day, woo! So number 2, I do still have to work next week but only for 2 days because then I'm off on holiday! Even better news and I'm super duper excited :-)

Anyway today's review is all about the Urban Decay de-slick make up setting spray (phew, long name). I've wanted to try this for a really long time but I'd never really tried a setting spray before so didn't wanna go and spend twenty odd pounds on a bottle and not like it. So before this one I actually tried a couple of others, one being from Collection and one from MUA. Neither of which match up to this one! Now when I did finally purchase this one (the day Feel Unique starting stocking Urban Decay) did I realise you could buy this super cute traveling size bottle for a fraction of the price. Obviously ml wise it doesn't work out the greatest but it is great to just try it out first or if you actually are going traveling. I paid £9 for this 30ml bottle which I thought was great.

I love using this setting spray, it does suggest to help control oil that you apply it before your foundation and then again after finishing make up to keep it all nicely in place. I do have oily skin but I have only been using this after I've finished applying my make up and that seems to have worked for me but obviously it can depend on your skin. It simply does keep your make up in place literally all day long and I don't need to touch up. It feels nice and refreshing on the skin and doesn't take too long to sink into the skin so there's no sticky feeling. It also doesn't affect the make up already on your face and just sinks in super quickly with no hassle. It says to hold this so far away from your face and then form an X and T shape with the spray to make sure you've covered your whole face.

Overall I really love this product and definitely think I will re-purchase! I also think the travel size will last me quite some time as yet which is brilliant for the price I paid and considering it's now a staple everyday make up item! I'd love to know if you've tried this product or any other de-slick item from Urban Decay!

BA Honours Degree in Children's Care, Learning and Development and working in a children's nursery. I have a passion for writing about all things beauty related with the occasional lifestyle/fashion post.